of very recent date, and I don't think much of foot-print clues,
anyhow.

Then I examined the carpet, or, rather, the several rugs which
ornamented the beautiful polished floor.

I found nothing but two petals of a pale yellow rose. They were
crumpled, but not dry or withered, and could not have been long
detached from the blossom on which they grew.

Parmalee chanced to have his back toward me as I spied them, and
I picked them up and put them away in my pocket-book without his
knowledge. If the stolid inspector saw me, he made no sign.
Indeed, I think he would have said nothing if I had carried off
the big desk itself. I looked round the room for a bouquet or
vase of flowers from which the petals might have fallen, but none
was there.

This far I had progressed when I heard steps in the hall, and a
moment later the coroner ushered the six gentlemen of his jury
into the room.




III

THE CORONER'S JURY